Minelab x-terra User Manual

1

Metal detecting is a fascinating and rewarding activity
enjoyed by people all over the world. By getting to know
your X-Terra you can become one of the many who find
valuable coins, relics and jewellery on a regular basis.

The X-Terra is a high-precision instrument incorporating
Minelab’s latest single frequency technology, VFLEX.

VFLEX processes a pure single frequency, ensuring
that you can enjoy the hobby at all times, confident
that you are using a highly-tuned and dependable
detector. In other words, a SERIOUS detector.

This pocket sized manual is designed to help both
the beginner and expert treasure hunter get the best
performance out of the X-Terra 30 or X-Terra 50.

* This asterisk will appear

throughout the manual,
indicating features available
on the X-Terra 50 model only.

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Back Cover

VFLEX Technolog

y

Assembling Your X-Terr

a

Connecting the Coi

l

Shaft Assembl

y

Armrest Assembl

y

Connecting the Control Bo

x

Coil Cable Assembl

y

Inserting Batterie

s

Ready for Us

e

Quick Start Referenc

e

Detecting Basics

Holding the Detecto

r

Sweeping the Coi

l

Introducing the Control Pane

l

Keypad Layou

t

Turning on the Detecto

r
LCD Layout
Detecting Exercise
Example Detections
How Detectors Work
Target ID
Discrimination Scale
Preset Discrimination Patterns
Choosing a Discrimination Pattern
X-Terra 30
X-Terra 50 / All Metal Shortcut
Pinpointin

g

Recovering the Targe

t

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3

Detailed Detector Operation

LCD Icon

s

Operatio

n
Selecting Menu Settings
Sensitivity
Adjusting Sensitivity
Volume
Adjusting Volume
Noise Cancel*
Choosing a Noise Cancel Channel*
Ground Balance*
Adjusting Ground Balance*
Editing Discrimination Patterns
Method

1
Method 2
Erasing Patterns
Factory Presets

Reference Information

Sounds
Error Messages
Battery Behaviour
Care of your X-Terra
Accessory Headphones
Protective Accessories
Accessory Coils
X-Terra Specifications
X-Terra Model Features
User Preference

s

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50
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Power
Supply

Audio

Transmit

LCD ReceiveKeypad

PRIMARY MICRO
(IN CONTROL BOX)
DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING
(DSP)
CODEC SIGNAL CONVERSION

The X-Terra dete ctors are Minelab’s first products
to incorporate V FLEX Technology.

VFLEX uses state of t he art di gital and mixed-sig nal
components to enhance standard single frequen cy
techno logy by replac ing most o f the anal ogue
circui try with digital si gnal processing. The small
amount of analo gue circuit ry still employed has
been very carefull y designed and calibrated to
obtai n the outs tanding s ensitivit y, st ability and
repeatabil ity requi red to match the performance
of the pro cessing in the digita l domain.

This radic al depar ture from traditiona l approach es
to met al detector design has been made possi ble
by advances in elec tronics that power p ersonal
digit al assistants, cell (mobi le) phones and
high- fidelity portable audio.

Analog Signal

Control Box

For th e X-Terra user, this precision means
depen dable per formance and improve d immunit y
to environmental conditions such as ground
miner alization, ele ctromagne tic interference
and te mperature variations .

VFLEX requires coils that a re accurate ly constructed
and c alibrated. Every tim e the dete ctor starts up,
the mi cro-controlle rs in the control box and the
coil e stablish commun ication through a digital
data link.

Infor mation abo ut the coil is s ent to the control box,
so the dete ctor ‘kn ows’ what t ype of co il is att ached
and c an set the correct operating parameters.

This optimizes t he perfo rmance, and also make s
the detector ‘ future pro of’, in that it w ill be ca pable
of op erating at different f requencie s* depending
on the ele ctronic p ropertie s of the co il.

Analog Signal

Coil

Precision VFLEX Signal

Standard VLF Signal

(Without VFLEX)

Transmit

Receive

SECONDARY MICRO
(IN COIL)
SENSING + TRANSMITTING
COIL TYPE, SIZE, FREQUENCY

6

Rubber washers (2)

Plastic wing nut

Plastic bolt

Armrest screw

Armrest strap

Velcro tabs (2)

Before assembling your X-Terra please check
that the package includes these parts:

Coil

Skidplate (fitted to coil)

Control box

Armrest

Stand

Lower shaft

Middle shaft

Upper shaft

Warranty card

Instruction manual

you’re holding it

:-)

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8

Plug the two rubber washers into the holes
on either side of the lower shaft yoke.

Slide the yoke into the yoke bracket on top
of the coil. Ensure that the spring loaded
pin in the lower shaft is underneath.

Insert the plastic bolt through the yoke
and the yoke bracket.

Fasten with the plastic wing nut provided,
being careful not to damage the thread
of the bolt by over-tightening. This may
need to be loosened to adjust the coil to
a comfortable detecting angle.

The coil cable is directly wired into the
coil and is not removable. Any attempt to
disconnect this cable will void your warranty.

9

Ensure that the twistlocks of the shafts
are loosened by rotating them counter­clockwise.

Compress the spring loaded pin in the
lower shaft and slide it into the middle shaft
until the pin reaches the adjustment holes.
The pin will spring out and click into place.

Attach the middle shaft to the upper
shaft in the same way.

Once shafts are assembled, lock them in
position by rotating twistlocks clockwise.

The upper shaft assembly location uses
two spring loaded pins to strengthen the
joint, one on either side of the shaft

10

Place the armrest onto the top of the upper
shaft, lining up the central hole in the
armrest with a hole in the aluminium shaft.
Position the armrest to suit your arm length.

(Holding the Detector, pg. 15)

Insert the screw up through the stand, upper
shaft and armrest. Tighten the screw, being
careful not to overtighten and damage the
thread.

With the velcro side facing upwards, thread
the armrest strap through both slots in the
armrest. Ensure the end of the strap will
be fastened outwards from your arm.

The X-Terra is designed to be used in both the
left and right hand. This diagram shows the
velcro strap threaded outwards for the left arm.

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Connecting

With the LCD facing up, push the control
box onto the end of the handle until it
fits into place.

The LCD window has a protective
film affixed to prevent scratching.
This may be removed when the
detector is fully assembled.

The control box may be easily removed
for packing and transport in a carry bag.

Disconnecting

Brace the detector firmly against
yourself, grasp the control box and
pull it away from the handle.

Wind the coil cable around the lower
and middle shaft enough times to take
up the slack.

Use the velcro tabs to keep the coil cable
in place against the shaft. It is recommended
that one tab is used on the lower shaft close
to the coil and the other tab on the middle
shaft before the cable reaches across to
the control box.

Align the coil plug and connect into
the socket in the back of the control box,
lightly tightening the retaining ring to
hold it in place.

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The X-Terra uses 4 X AA batteries which
are not included with the detector.

(Battery

Behaviour, pg. 62)

Access the battery compartment via the
battery door located on the side of the
control box. Slide the battery compartment
door upwards with your thumb.

Place individual batteries into the
compartment as illustrated, ensuring
the positive (

+) and negative (–) contacts

match the diagram on the control box.

Close the battery door by pushing and
sliding it downwards.

If the detector does not turn on check the
battery orientation. The detector will not
be damaged if the batteries are inserted
incorrectly.

CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY
ASSEMBLED YOUR X-TERRA.
IT IS NOW READY FOR DETECTING!

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Thread your arm through the armrest
and strap. Grasp the handle of the detector
and rest your forearm in the armrest.

Your elbow should sit just above the top
of the armrest. Lightly tighten the velcro
strap and secure it around your arm.

Shaft is the

correct length

Shaft is too short

The correct position of armrest and length
of shaft should allow you to swing the
coil in front of your body without any
uncomfortable stretching or stooping.

To adjust the length of the shafts, undo the
twistlocks, compress the spring pins of the
shafts and move them up or down to suit.
Once all shafts are clipped into position,
rotate twistlocks clockwise onto the shafts
until a firm clamping action is achieved.

(Shaft Assembly, pg. 9)

To adjust the position of the armrest
remove the armrest screw and move the
armrest and stand to the desired position.

(Armrest Assembly, pg.10)

Think of the detector as an extension of
your arm. It should be straight with your
forearm and feel light and comfortable
when you pick it up.

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coil parallel to the ground

Once outside, practice sweeping the coil
over the ground in a side-to-side motion,
while walking forward slowly. Slightly overlap
the previous sweep to ensure a full ground
coverage. An approximate sweep speed is 3
seconds from left to right to left.

It is important to keep the coil close and
parallel to the ground at all times. This will
increase detection depth and response to
small objects. Avoid excessive brushing
of the coil on the ground, as this may result
in false signals and inaccurate target ID’s.

A variation in coil height at the end of each
swing may also cause confusing sounds and
reduce detection depth.

1” (2.5cm)

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POWER turns the detector

on/off.

Accesses and scrolls through
detecting settings.

This button has two functions.
Assists in locating the exact
position of a target prior to
recovery (

PINPOINT).

Exits menu settings, and
returns to detection (

DETECT).

Adjusts settings and scrolls to
the left (

–) or right (+) through

the discrimination segments

.

Scrolls through the different
discrimination patterns.

Accepts or rejects certain
metals by turning on/off
individual discrimination
segments.

Toggles between the selected
discrimination pattern and
the all metal pattern

.

Activates the manual
adjustment to compensate
for different types of soil.

*

*

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1

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5

AL

1

2

3

4

5

AL

50

30

50

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Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) area

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There are many metallic objects inside
the house (e.g. nails in the floor, reinforcing
in the walls) that will result in overloading
the detector’s electronics. There may also
be interference from TV sets and other
household appliances. In this environment
the detector may give erratic performance
and numerous false signals.

If the detector emits an overload sound
and displays OL

(Error Messages, pg. 61) move the

coil away from the source of the overload.

It is best to only turn the detector on
when outside, away from sources
of electromagnetic disturbance.

Press POWER

A short start up sequence will display
and a tune will be heard.

Once on, the detector will be in automatic
detection. There will be no numeric
reading until a metal object is detected.

Overloading is not harmful to the
detectors electronics.

Many of the screen pictures in this
manual that refer to both models,
show the X-Terra 50 display only.

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2

3

4

5

AL

This LCD layout is a representation to show
the differences between the two models. LCD
icons are never all shown at the same time.

30

1

2

3

4

5

AL

50

1

2

3

4

5

AL

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Blank detection display.
There will be no numerical
reading until a detection
is made.

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Pass the coil across the objects, one at a
time, and observe the LCD and the detector’s
sounds as it detects each object.

Note: If you are getting signals from a clear patch of

ground, there may be unknown buried metal objects.

Before attempting to pinpoint or recover
real targets it is important to understand
how to interpret the audio and visual
responses correctly.

If the detector is making popping and
crackling sounds and displaying numbers
when the coil is not over one of the metal
objects, try reducing the detector’s sensitivity

(pg. 44). Once stable, the detector will only

sound and display numbers when the coil
is passed over a target.

A good way to become familiar with
detecting is to test the detector against
a range of metal objects. This exercise
is a simple lesson on how the detector
interprets metal objects.

Gather a collection of different metal objects,
e.g. various coins, gold and silver jewellery,
a rusted nail, pull-tab, brass button and
aluminium foil.

Take the detector outside, away from known
electromagnetic fields or metal objects.

Lay objects in a line, sufficiently spaced apart
to allow the coil to pass between the objects.

This test exercise can be used when
adjusting the detector’s settings (Sensitivity,
pg. 44, Volume, pg. 46, Noise Cancel*, pg. 48,
Ground Balance*, pg. 50)

The X-Terra 50 has additional ways
of stabilising the detector’s signals for
different environments. (Noise Cancel*, pg.
48, Ground Balance*, pg. 50)

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Don’t worry if the detector isn’t producing
a sound over the nail, this is because the
detector begins in the default pattern

1,

a setting which rejects signals from common
junk targets.

The X-Terra coil is waterproof.
(Care of Your X-Terra, pg. 64)

24

Discrimination Pattern
The factory preset pattern 1 rejects ferrous metals and
foil, and accepts non-ferrous metals. Patterns can be
edited and saved according to detecting preferences.

Audio
A detected non-ferrous target will give a medium

- high tone audio response.

Visual
A detected non-ferrous target will give a visual
indication within the non-ferrous section of the
discrimination scale and a positive target ID.

A detected target ID segment
(indicated on the diagram by a grey icon)
will flash (if accepted) quickly 3 times to
show its position on the discrimination
scale - just like a cursor on a computer
screen. The segment will continue to flash
slowly until another target ID segment is
detected.

1

2

4 icons to indicate
the targets depth
from the coil,
approx. 6-8” (15-20cm)

Non-ferrous coin

Medium
High